Airbnb is proposing a number of policy changes that governments and cities could adapt to improve remote working around the world.
The home rental platform released a white paper Thursday morning outlining steps that locations and lawmakers can take “to capitalize on the rise of remote working for their communities.” Recommendations include improving the visa process, encouraging visitors to support the local economy and streamlining tax compliance.
“We don’t want to act like we have the answers at this point. Nobody is an expert and we want to be humble about our role, but I think we are well suited to be the platform for sharing information across the world since we have such a large footprint,” Nathan Blecharczykco-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Airbnb, says fast company. “This stuff isn’t necessarily easy, especially internationally,” he adds, pointing to the visa process and tax codes.
Airbnb has internally supported remote work. In April, the company announced a New policy that allows employees to live and work from anywhere. This includes the ability to work from 170 countries for up to 90 days per year at each location.
Generally speaking, the rise of remote work has been a boon for Airbnb. The company says long-term stays, which it defines as 28 days or more, are its fastest growing category depending on the duration of the trip.
Workers in a new country are likely to take long weekends or short trips to explore the region, where they could use Airbnb to book accommodation and additional experiences, Blecharczyk says. They could also use the platform to visit a country in advance before traveling to work remotely.
But the proposal also benefits the places and economies people visit, Airbnb points out. In the white paper, the company points to a report 2021 from the economic innovation group, which found that an incentive program for remote workers in Tulsa, Oklahoma generated nearly $20 million in additional local GDP and about $1.6 million in tax revenue national and local in 2021. He adds that every dollar spent on the incentive program generated $2.38 in new local labor income.
Regardless of the Airbnb report, a Pew Research Center study published in February revealed that 60% of workers in remote-friendly jobs would prefer to work remotely all or most of the time after the pandemic.
After reviewing the processes of more than three dozen countries that are implementing some sort of digital nomad-friendly visa system, Airbnb suggests governments adopt remote worker visa programs, streamline and simplify the application process. and offer visas for remote workers for more than a year. These visas should also have fast-track approval (less than three weeks) and a reduced fee, Airbnb says, adding that countries should limit the requirements for a remote work applicant.
Tax and financial incentives can also be used to bring in remote workers and reduce the tax burden on the employee and their employer. Airbnb advises governments not to tax foreign sources of income, extend resort tax exemptions to visitors with remote work visas who wish to book accommodation for their trips, and set clear rules on which constitutes a permanent establishment.
Other recommended measures include accommodation credits, high-speed Internet support, discounts, and volunteer opportunities to help integrate the individual into the area.
Airbnb has so far partnered with 20 destinations worldwide to develop remote work digital hubs, which offer both long-term referral options and links to information on entry requirements and tax policies. The hubs, which are now rolling out until the end of the year, include Bali, Dubai, rural France and Tampa Bay, Florida.
“We just want to support those who want to get out of their bubble and go somewhere new,” Blecharczyk says.
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